Defence Lawyer Objects To Collection Of Murder Charged Man’s DNA Sample

Defence lawyer Iqbal Khan objected to the collection of his client Ajay Kumar’s DNA sample at the High Court in Lautoka yesterday.

Kumar is alleged to have murdered his de-factor partner, the late Saleshni Devi who died in an incident on September 15, 2021, after the vehicle she was in went down a cliff in Teidamu, Lautoka.

Kumar appeared before Justice Riyaz Hamza and the state was represented by Taitusi Tuenuku.

The court heard that Mr Khan’s objections were based on the grounds that this was a violation of Kumar’s rights.

However, Mr Tuenuku told the court that forensic evidence was constantly being relied on by the court and that the state would file an application on what directions to take regarding the collection of Kumar’s DNA sample.

Mr Khan then told the court that the sample should have been collected during the investigation and not now when the matter was already before the court.

The court heard that the state would not be responding to Mr Khan’s objections but would address these issues in its submissions, where Mr Tuenuku requested 14 days to file submissions.

Mr Khan also requested a further 14 days to file a response to the state’s submissions.

Justice Hamza adjourned the matter to June 2, for both counsels to file their respective submissions. Edited by Losirene Lacanivalu

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